Ancient Greece

Geography, Rise of City-States

Geography Mountains

- ¾ land covered by mountains

- Limited arable land- land suitable for agriculture

- Mt. Olympus: highest mountain known as the “home of the gods”

- Made transportation, communication, trade over land, and unification difficult

Ionian Sea

Aegean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Rivers

- Short, narrow, difficult to navigate by boat

- Made transportation and trade difficult by river

Seas

- Many Greeks became sailors, fishers, and traders

- Traded with other Greek settlements, Egypt, and Fertile Crescent

Minoans Civilization that developed

on Island of Crete (2000 BC-1400 BC)Named after legendary king

MinosPalace at KnossosWalls of palace covered with

huge frescoes- paintings made on wet plaster

Sea faring peopleThriving trade with other Aegean landsStrong navies to support trade

Fell to Mycenaeans from mainland Greece

Mycenaeans Controlled mainland Greece

from 1600 BC-1400 BC Named after leading city,

Mycenae, which was heavily fortified

Warring people led by warrior kingsGreat wealth from battle and trade

Led the Greeks in Trojan War- story told by Homer

Dark Ages of Greece, 1150-750 BC Not long after the Trojan

War ended Mycenaeans fell to

invaders People known as the

Dorians migrated to the Balkan Peninsula

No written language

Rise of City-States (700s BC) Polis, or independent city-state

Geography played a huge role in their development and independence

Built around an acropolis, or fortified hillEach had an agora, or marketplaceEach had its own government, laws, weights and

measures, calendar, and money

Citizenship in the

City-State

To be considered a citizen, must be a free adult male Women, slaves, and foreigners not considered

citizensCitizens had political rights and the responsibility

of civic participation in government

Homeric Age Epic- Long poems about

heroes and great events Most famous was blind

poet named HomerWrote two famous epics-

The Iliad and The OdysseyThe Iliad- Story of the

Trojan WarThe Odyssey- Odysseus’

journey home from war

The Iliad

ParisHelenMycenaean King

Troy

10 yrs Troy Loses

The Odyssey

Odysseus

Mycenaean King on journey home from Trojan War

Religion Polytheistic Religion Religion did not focus on morality or an afterlife Religion was used by Greeks to explain their world Created myths- traditional stories about gods,

goddesses and heroes Their religion myths provided explanations for:

Natural phenomena (lightning, change of seasons, etc.)Human qualities (emotions, bravery, etc.)Life Events (long life, good luck, good harvest, etc.)

Greek Gods and Goddesses

Lived on Mount Olympus

Zeus- King of the gods

Apollo

light, music, and poetry

Athena

Protector of wisdom and womanly goodness

Aphrodite

love and beauty

Artemis

Hunting and the Wilderness

Hera- Goddess

of marriage

The Olympic Games Held every four years beginning in 776 BC

Held at Olympia on a grassy field Used to appease the gods Athletes won honor and a wreath of olive

leaves

Government City-states originated as small kingdoms ruled

by warrior leaders supported by wealthy landowners.Landowners supported warrior leaders by providing

weapons for army to ensure the city-states’ safetyOver time small group of landowners became known

as aristocrats By 700 BC, many aristocrats had overthrown

the warrior leaders of their city-states Governed as an aristocracy- ruled by small

elite group of citizens

Phalanx During aristocratic years,

many commoners revolted

Created citizen armies with iron weapons

These soldiers were called hoplites

They formed a fighting formation called a phalanx

Tyrants Came to power through the rebellions

Tyrant- someone who Illegally took power, but had the people’s support.

Initially provided better lives for the poorer people in the city-state

Promoted trade by the establishment of colonies and often began great building projects

Other forms of Government Around 500s BC, many tyrants lost their

power to new ideas of how people should be governed

Ideas of popular government became popular, the idea that people can and should rule themselves

Various forms of government arose in city-states, including Athens and Sparta, two leading city-states